Windshield removal & installation

Hi Mazda guys & gals !!!

Yes, I did use the Search option but did not come up with anything useful.

What I need to know is this:

Anyone on the forum with personal firsthand experience with removing and reinstalling a Mazda windshield?

If so, what has been your experience?

What is a PITA (pain in the ass) or not so bad?

Thx !!

Take off all the trip around your windshield, and the wiper cowl. Get a windshield knife and cut around the outside, getting behind the windshield. You are cutting the windshield away from the urethane. After you have cut around the whole windshield, get inside the truck and gently push on it. See if its free. If it isn't cut in the spot that is hanging up. Repeat process untill window is free. When you put the windshield back in, clean up any urethane on the windshield and contact surface. Razor blades work well for this. Then clean with surface cleaner or thinner. Get some window urethane and lay a bead around the contact surface on the truck. Install windshield. Apply pressure to the contact areas assuring adhesion. Tape the 4 corners and let sit untill urethane is cured.

...and you would need what sort of tool to remove the trim and clips?

The wiper cowl is held in by 6 or so plastic push pins. Located in the rubber weather strip at the front of the cowl. The easiest way to remove those is with a fork tool, or push pin pliers. Slide the cowl twords the front of the truck, it locks into the bottom trim piece. There is screws holding that trim piece in. The rest of the trim pieces can be carefully removed with a pick tool.

How thick of a bead of ureathane and how many tubes does it take? Does all the urethane need to be removed off the cab?

in my experience.... there has been 6 screws holding down the cowl.... i had to remove the hood to get a screw driver (philips) to get the screws out.... as far as the window trim.... it just pops off the clips and the clips should pop off as well.....

how the hell do you get a window knife

I bought my knife from mac. You could probably get one from napa, or a parts store or that sort. The cab needs to be clean of any urethane. The bead should be a lil larger then the size of a pencil. Hope my description was helpful.

i use a simple box cutter razor knife. be careful, these blades aren't very strong...

Just let the windshield people do the swap, lol.